Advice: I’ve been a jerk lately and I don’t know why
Dreamstime/TCA
A concerned reader wrote in describing a troubling pattern of irritability and outbursts toward others, which he admits have left him confused and remorseful.
He shared that, in recent weeks, he’s found himself reacting angrily in situations that wouldn’t normally upset him. One morning, he confronted a neighbor’s painting crew for setting up early, claiming they were violating the county noise ordinance—only to realize later that they weren’t excessively loud. “I felt embarrassed afterward for giving them grief,” he admitted.
The same pattern repeated during a takeout pickup, where he unfairly scolded restaurant workers. “There’s been other times as well, where I’m ticked off and call them out,” he wrote. “I don’t know why I’m doing this, but I need to get this behavior under control.”
The 70-year-old reader worries the sudden irritability might mirror what he saw in his late father, who displayed similar behavior before being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. “I have visions of my dad, who when he was my age, was the same way,” he said. “I don’t want to be that old crabby guy.”
He’s seeking guidance on how to understand and manage these mood changes before they strain relationships further.
— Mood Improvement
About Post Author
You must be logged in to post a comment.